There must be a municipal ordnance that comes across the City Council of small towns across America: Item 2361-D Move to Classify Our Town as "Liberal". Upon passage, the street sweepers start spraying patchouli-scented oil into the air, and a food Co-op springs up overnight.

Either way, I love small(ish) liberal towns. Madison, WI; Asheville, NC; MacGregor, IA...the list goes on. When I heard from a friend of a friend that, apparently, Viroqua schools mandate organic options be offered on the lunch menu, I said to myself, "We gotta get down there."

Not that I hate our small town--it's just too small to have a socio-politcal affiliation of any kind. And Viroqua has a Co-Op that sells something other than pelleted ungulate feed.

The opportunity arose through our midwife. Her home office is in Viroqua (go figure). "Let's do the appointment at your home office next time," we said. Today was "next time".

It was as to be expected. It's a small town with a few extravagances of modern culture peppered on the outskirts (Subway, Pizza Hut, Walgreens, Wal-Mart). Downtown, the populace walks the streets looking like most other people in the world, only slightly less groomed and carrying a subtle smirk that says, "I'm on the right path, spiritually, mentally and politically...and I know it." The smirk has an accompanying, unmistakable gait that says, "We're not slaves to any corporations, so we're never quite in a hurry to get anywhere."

Of course, we didn't have to drive 50 miles to find a place like this. And it certainly isn't as if we've haven't found it before. But in a world where "out of the way" destinations are sold to young, slobbering backpackers by the handful, it's nice to know that there's always a Viroqua. A small, peaceful place that is graciously ignored by all those who aren't trapped in its gravity.

For more, read "Viroqua saves its soul"